Unlocking device for a vehicle hood

Abstract

An unlocking device has a release lever that is connected pivotably to a carrier element and is in each case connected via Bowden cables to a catch hook for clip elements in a vehicle hood. The catch hook is moved by the Bowden cables that are actuated via the release lever, counter to the spring force of a spring element into an unlocking position for opening the vehicle hood.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An unlocking device for unlocking a vehicle hood relative to a vehicle body of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one catch hook pivotally mounted to the vehicle body, and at least one Bowden cable having an end mounted to the at least one catch hook so that the at least one catch hook is pivotable via the at least one Bowden cable, the unlocking device comprising:
 a base plate on the vehicle body and having opposite top and bottom surfaces and an opening extending therethrough, the opening having an array of circumferentially spaced recesses; 
 an elongate spacer bushing having opposite upper and lower ends and a bearing ring projecting out at a position between the upper and lower ends, circumferentially spaced cams at the lower end of the elongate spacer bushing, the elongate spacer bushing being inserted through the opening in the base plate with the cams aligned with the recesses and being engaged against the bottom surface of the base plate by rotating the elongate spacer bushing with the bearing ring engaging the top surface of the base plate so that the base plate is held between the bearing ring and the cams; 
 a carrier element having a cylindrical bearing sleeve with an elongate bushing shaft guided through the elongate spacer bushing so that a free end of the elongate bushing shaft projects beyond the bottom end of the elongate spacer bushing, the cylindrical bearing sleeve being axially rotatable in the elongate spacer bushing; 
 a serrated ring fastened around the free end of the elongate bushing shaft and supported against the lower end of the elongate spacer bushing; and 
 a release lever mounted to a part of the carrier element projecting above the top surface of the base plate, wherein 
 an end of the at least one Bowden cable remote from at least one catch hook is connectable to the carrier element so that rotation of the carrier element relative to the elongate spacer bushing can move the Bowden cable and pivot the catch hook. 
 
     
     
       2. The unlocking device of  claim 1 , wherein a cup-shaped annular bushing is formed around an outer circumference of the carrier element and defines a receiving space, a torsion spring element being disposed in the receiving space. 
     
     
       3. The unlocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing ring of the elongate spacer bushing engages over the base plate from above and is connected in a positionally fixed manner to the base plate. 
     
     
       4. The unlocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion spring element has an upper end disposed in the receiving space of the cup-shaped annular bushing and connected to the carrier element and the torsion spring element further having a turned-away lower end in the bearing ring of the spacer bushing in a manner hooked into a receiving opening. 
     
     
       5. The unlocking device of  claim 2 , wherein the cup-shaped annular bushing has a head wall formed with an annular rotational-guiding annular groove. 
     
     
       6. The unlocking device of  claim 5 , wherein the upper end of the spacer bushing is in the rotational-guiding annular groove. 
     
     
       7. The unlocking device of  claim 6 , wherein the cup-shaped annular bushing of the carrier element has a lower end supported rotatably on an upper surface of the bearing ring of the elongate spacer bushing.